When a planet is retrograde it appears to be moving backward in the sky. A retrograde planet looks like it's going backwards in the sky but it is not, it is stationary in the sky and look like it moving back relative to the earth movement. A retrograde planet is very strong for spiritual growth but weak for materialistic manifestation of things. When any planet retrograde in the birth chart and transit wise it become more conscious in our subconscious mind. Many of the things the planet rules become confused and backup in our minds. Re-thinking, Re-evaluating, and Re-assaying is the theme of retrograde planets. The lack of confidence and the confusion around what the planet rule in our life becomes a source of greater scrutiny but eventually it gives greater clarity in our mind with time this leads to improving the area of life which they rule but delays many tangible things on materialistic plane and it become very frustrating.That's why retrograde planets are never good for earthy life but good for spiritual growth because when someone not getting anything on materialistic level then he looks for other side of life ( Spiritual life or beyond spiritual life). When Planets reach an opposition to the Sun they become retrograde and outer planets remain Retrograde for longer time.
Some people have multiple Retrograde planets, which can bring powerful karmic lessons that create chaos and confusion in the mind and leads to different direction in life. The more Retrograde planets an individual has, the more difficult his life becomes and more introspective and mature within and grow in different area of life. Retrogrades occur on an subconscious level, and if an individual turns his consciousness level and understand why things happened to them then they can utilising this energy in helping other people. Retrograde planets do not give benefits as do direct planets and they become source of confusion in the individual mind.
The meanings of Retrograde planets are determined by the sign and house they occupy, along with the aspects they make. Retrograde planets work differently and need extra understanding.
All retrogrades have three phases:
1) The direct motion until the first station, the retrograde motion, and then the direct motion following the second station.
2) The stationary periods in between are the most powerful, as the planet slows down to change direction.
So what are the duration of planets retrograde:
Mercury is Retrograde for 24 days (almost three weeks) and is stationary for approximately 3 days.
Venus is Retrograde for 42 days (almost six weeks); is stationary for approximately 11 days.
Mars is Retrograde for 80 days (almost eleven weeks); is stationary for approximately 20 days.
Jupiter is Retrograde for 120 days (almost eighteen weeks); is stationary for approximately 10 days.
Saturn is Retrograde for 140 days (almost twenty one weeks); is stationary for approximately 10 days.
The Sun, Moon, North and South Node are never retrograde.
Generally Retrograde planets repeat previous incidents or issues from this life or former lives which were not fully finished with and they need to be processed in order to unload our karmic debt and free from that particular karma.
Now there is four planets Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury is retrograde. These four planets in retrograde create lot of confusion and stuck energy in our life. Most of the people feeling stuck in some areas of life related with planetary energies. This is good time to think and go internally and ask what you want from your life.
